The 1970s were a period of upheaval in Switzerland and internationally: a spirit of experimentation left a lasting mark on art and society. Taking the Aarau scene and the Ziegelrain studio collective as its starting point, the exhibition brings together local, regional and national perspectives. Pop Art, Nouveau Réalisme and conceptual approaches engage in dialogue – both together and apart. A particular focus is placed on the collective working practices of the time, such as studio collectives and co-authorship. Fifty years on, what can we take away from this period of renewal?

Featuring Herbert Distel, Helmut Federle, Heiner Kielholz, Rosina Kuhn, Olivier Mosset, Markus Müller, Václav Pozárek, Klaudia Schifferle, Daniel Spoerri, Hugo Suter, Gillian White and many other influential artists.

Through paintings, installations, documents and archival materials, the exhibition revisits a moment when artistic production was increasingly shaped by collaboration, experimentation and a desire to challenge established conventions. The works on display reveal how artists responded to social and cultural transformations, testing new forms of expression and redefining the relationship between art, everyday life and collective action.

By placing the Aarau scene within a broader national and international context, the exhibition highlights the networks and exchanges that connected artists across regions and disciplines. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of the 1970s and on how the questions raised during that decade—regarding authorship, community and artistic freedom—continue to resonate in contemporary practice.